[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25845-25846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6601]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 2006D-0170]


International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical 
Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH); 
Draft Guidance for Industry on Pharmacovigilance of Veterinary 
Medicinal Products; Data Elements for Submission of Adverse Event 
Reports (VICH GL42); Request for Comments; Availability

AGENCY:  Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:  Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY:  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the 
availability for comments of a draft guidance document for industry 
(182) entitled ``Pharmacovigilance of Veterinary Medicinal 
Products; Data Elements for Submission of Adverse Event Reports'' (VICH 
GL42). This draft guidance has been developed for veterinary use by the 
International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements 
for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH). The objective 
of this draft guidance document is to standardize the data for 
submission of adverse events relating to veterinary medicinal products.

DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on the draft guidance by 
June 1, 2006, to ensure their adequate consideration in preparation of 
the final document. General comments on agency guidance documents are 
welcome at any time.

ADDRESSES: Submit written requests for single copies of the draft 
guidance to the Communications Staff (HFV-12), Center for Veterinary 
Medicine, Food and Drug Administration, 7519 Standish Pl., Rockville, 
MD 20855. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist that office 
in processing your requests. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 
for electronic access to the draft guidance document.
    Submit written comments on the draft guidance to the Division of 
Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 
Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Submit electronic comments 
to http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments. Comments should be identified 
with the full title of the draft guidance and the docket number found 
in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Post, Center for Veterinary 
Medicine, (HFV-210), Food and Drug Administration, 7519 Standish Pl., 
Rockville, MD 20855, 240-276-9062, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In recent years, many important initiatives have been undertaken by 
regulatory authorities and industry associations to promote the 
international harmonization of regulatory requirements. FDA has 
participated in efforts to enhance harmonization and has expressed its 
commitment to seek scientifically based harmonized technical procedures 
for the development of pharmaceutical products. One of the goals of 
harmonization is to identify and then reduce differences in technical 
requirements for drug development among regulatory agencies in 
different countries.
    FDA has actively participated in the International Conference on 
Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Approval of Pharmaceuticals 
for Human Use for several years to develop harmonized technical 
requirements for the approval

[[Page 25846]]

of human pharmaceutical and biological products among the European 
Union, Japan, and the United States. The VICH is a parallel initiative 
for veterinary medicinal products. The VICH is concerned with 
developing harmonized technical requirements for the approval of 
veterinary medicinal products in the European Union, Japan, and the 
United States, and includes input from both regulatory and industry 
representatives.
    The VICH Steering Committee is composed of member representatives 
from the European Commission; European Medicines Evaluation Agency; 
European Federation of Animal Health; Committee on Veterinary Medicinal 
Products; the U.S. FDA; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; the Animal 
Health Institute; the Japanese Veterinary Pharmaceutical Association; 
the Japanese Association of Veterinary Biologics; and the Japanese 
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.
    Four observers are eligible to participate in the VICH Steering 
Committee: One representative from the government of Australia/New 
Zealand, one representative from the industry in Australia/New Zealand, 
one representative from the government of Canada, and one 
representative from the industry of Canada. The VICH Secretariat, which 
coordinates the preparation of documentation, is provided by the 
International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH). An IFAH 
representative also participates in the VICH Steering Committee 
meetings.

II. Draft Guidance on Pharmacovigilance of Veterinary Medicinal 
Products

    In November 2005, the VICH Steering Committee agreed that a draft 
guidance entitled ``Pharmacovigilance of Veterinary Medicinal Products: 
Data Elements for Submission of Adverse Event Reports'' (VICH GL42) 
should be made available for public comment. Elements of this draft 
guidance were previously published in 2000 as part of a draft guidance 
entitled ``Pharmacovigilance of Veterinary Medicinal Products: 
Management of Adverse Event Reports (AER's)'' (VICH GL24). The 
objective of draft guidance VICH GL42 is to standardize the data for 
submission of adverse events relating to VMPs. A consistent set of data 
will contribute to a harmonized approach for the detection and 
investigation of adverse effects of marketed VMPs and thus help to 
increase public and animal health. The draft guidance is the product of 
the Pharmacovigilance Expert Working Group of the VICH. Comments on 
this draft will be considered by FDA and the Pharmacovigilance Expert 
Working Group.

III. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This draft guidance document refers to previously approved 
collections of information found in FDA regulations. The collections of 
information have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0284 
(expiration date June 30, 2006). Prior to the finalization and 
implementation of this guidance, FDA intends to add the new collection 
of information to the related form for submitting adverse event reports 
entitled ``Veterinary Adverse Drug Reaction, Lack of Effectiveness, 
Product Defect Report'' (Form FDA 1932), and FDA will publish a 
separate notice in the Federal Register requesting comment on any new 
collection of information in the updated form.

IV. Significance of Guidance

    Under 21 CFR 10.115(i)(3), when issuing draft guidance documents 
that are the product of international negotiations, FDA need not apply 
21 CFR 10.115(i)(2), which states that guidance documents must not 
include mandatory language such as ``shall,'' ``must,'' ``required,'' 
or ``requirement,'' unless FDA is using these words to describe a 
statutory or regulatory requirement. However, any final guidance 
document issued according to 21 CFR 10.115(i) must contain the elements 
in 21 CFR 10.115(i)(2). In this draft guidance, any language that is 
mandatory under U.S. laws and/or regulations is followed by a citation 
to the appropriate statutory or regulatory provision. In accordance 
with 21 CFR 10.115(i)(3), any mandatory language in this draft guidance 
that does not describe a statutory or regulatory requirement will be 
revised in the final guidance document to comply with 21 CFR 
10.115(i)(2).
    The draft VICH guidance is consistent with the agency's current 
thinking on this topic. This guidance does not create or confer any 
rights for or on any person and will not operate to bind FDA or the 
public. An alternative method may be used as long as it satisfies the 
requirements of applicable statutes and regulations.

V. Comments

    This draft guidance document is being distributed for comment 
purposes only and is not intended for implementation at this time. 
Interested persons may submit written or electronic comments regarding 
this draft guidance document to the Division of Dockets Management (see 
ADDRESSES). Submit a single copy of electronic comments or two paper 
copies of any mailed comments, except that individuals may submit one 
paper copy. Comments are to be identified with the docket number found 
in brackets in the heading of this document. A copy of the draft 
guidance and received comments are available for public examination in 
the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday.

VI. Electronic Access

    Comments may be submitted electronically on the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments. Once on this Internet site, select 
Docket No. 2006D-0170, entitled draft guidance for industry on 
``Pharmacovigilance of Veterinary Medicinal Products; Data Elements for 
Submission of Adverse Event Reports'' (VICH GL42), and follow the 
directions.
    Copies of the draft guidance document entitled ``Draft Guidance for 
Industry on ``Pharmacovigilance of Veterinary Medicinal Products; Data 
Elements for Submission of Adverse Event Reports'' (VICH GL42), may be 
obtained on the Internet from the Center for Veterinary Medicine home 
page at http://www.fda.gov/cvm.

    Dated: April 26, 2006.
Jeffrey Shuren,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. E6-6601 Filed 5-1-06; 8:45 am]
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